The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-04
An EARTHQUAKE SCENE.
AWFUL EXPERIENCE OF NE.
GROES IN rBIGG COUNTY, KY.
The Earth Sinks Five Feet, Carrys
Ing the Terrified Darkies
With IL.

CHICAGO, ILL, August ga Times
special fIom Evansville, Ind, referring
to the sinking Of land In Tiigg county,
KY, since the earthquake Of Monday
night, says: From q gentleman who
has jus arrived from Hopkinsville, the
following paitit ulsrs were obtained:
He Gays that the country about the
scene Ia low and swsmpy and almost
inaccessible in places, save by old,
beaten paths. Much OF II is wild and
contains large. dense woods. Golden
pondlie mere channel containing
two settlements Of negroes, who exc
out living by working on several
large farms owned by non retidents.
Monday night abou, 8 o'clock several
oil them ielt the ear h tremble, but
thought nothing serious had oc.
cured beyond q sliaht tremor, aud
alter gossipiDg over II went to bed.
About ~ o'clock everybody was
awakened by a sharp shock, and had
barely jumped 10 their feet when The
earth, with q shaking, dizzy motion,
suddenly sank Q distance Of Eve
feet, carrying houses and terrified
darkies with them. The sceres that
ensued bsiils description The negroes
fell on their knees and In irensied
toner sprayed the Lord to save them"
Others began shouting and praising
the Almighty, aud ever and anon
casting an upward glance 10 see IL
chaiiots Of fire were not descending.
Added to this pan demopium wss tho
intense darness which pervaded, the
moon being completely ooscured by
heavy black clouds, which hung very
low aud like q pail ov,r the doomed
distriot Rumblings were hoard from
the depths below, which gradually be-
came louder, aud numerous springs,
hidden for years, suddenly iound an
opening and began to burt upward in
constantly increasing streams, The
terrified inhabitants, not pausing for
houtohold goods OF chs,tole, gathered
heir ChsprIng hunisdly, aud rushed
away from the doomed spot, and some
Of them ara still puttiog as much
distance between them aud tho sink
ing land ~ possible. More courageous
ones only fled until they reached sale
ground. and there waited until day
light, when they veniured back TO
the scene OF the nigh.s terror
and gSEsd madly upon the ruin
spread before them. 0ser $50 acres
OF ine farm lar d, including one mag
| nitieent plantation, owned by n. III.
Hayden, lay from i've 10 six iept be-
low the level OF the surrounding coun-
Try and contained about three feet Of
water from the springs s'arted by the
esrtt quake. A large area of tobacco
and Irn will be q total loss. Nearly
all the cabins have been torn loose
aud are fioa,ing about In various posi-
tions, while household goods ara
mixed up In inex,ricable confusion.
fortunately no lives have been lost
but the loss Of property 10 inealculs
BILE. The catastrophe was undoubt
edly done by the earthquake, which
wss noticeable In Tennessre, Missouri
| Kentucky and Indiana at 1881
o'clock, as the rumbling sounds and
vibrations felt vsp- -'rrilsr 20 thcse OF
ismic dIs'urbancss. Golden Point
10 disasnt about 100 miles from the
spot where nearly seventy years ago 4
similar catastrophe took place. A
lake Of large dimensions suddenly dis
appeared. leaving nothing but the
bed, In the center Of which was hole
Of unia.homaDls depths several hun
dred yards In diameter.